Chapter 12: Demon lord

Finally, they reached the heart of the Demon Lord’s castle.

During their journey, where they defeated numerous powerful enemies, the relationships within the Hero’s party had become irreparably twisted.

Nevertheless, Logan silently focused solely on his role.

To protect Irene and to end this wretched journey.

The devoted support of the subjugation army led by Anastasia was also a great help in their reaching this place.

Thus, at the end of a long journey, what greeted the Hero’s party was Demon Lord Belzegor, seated on a massive throne that seemed woven from bone and darkness.

Around him, an ominous demonic aura swirled as if alive.

“Kekeke… You’ve managed to crawl your way here. Dogs of the Church.”

Belzegor, who had been sitting on the throne, slowly rose, a sly, snake-like smile on his face.

His appearance was far from the hideous monster Logan had vaguely imagined.

Rather, he had a somewhat twisted but human-like form, and his eyes seemed to hold complex emotions beyond simple malice.

And his following words were enough to bewilder the entire Hero’s party.

“Tsk tsk… The Goddess is truly cruel. Why she would try to protect and care for these lowly beings, who do not even properly follow her own revelations, is something I simply cannot comprehend.”

His voice held not the hatred or anger befitting a Demon Lord, but a deep resentment and a somewhat resigned bitterness.

Not following the revelations?

What on earth did that mean?

Not only Logan, but Lian and Irene also wore confused expressions.

“We have come to execute you in accordance with the Goddess’s sublime revelation! Do you know how many have suffered because of your wicked ambitions!”

“Th-that’s right! When I think of the terrible evil deeds you’ve committed…!”

Lian and Irene shouted reflexively.

At their shouts, Belzegor chuckled lowly, as if watching a child’s tantrum.

“Pitiful things… You don’t even know you’re just being used… That’s why that merciful Goddess pities creatures like you and tries to care for you.”

Belzegor’s gaze suddenly fixed on Logan.

His eyes wavered subtly.

“Oh dear… Especially in your case… It’s truly pitiable.”

“…?”

Logan frowned, not understanding.

Belzegor’s eyes clearly held sympathy and compassion.

It was so different from what one would expect from a cruel and wicked Demon Lord.

As the Hero’s party members grew confused by Belzegor’s unexpected demeanor, Sera shouted sharply.

“Everyone, get a grip! This is Belzegor’s cunning deception! Demon Lords have long enjoyed confusing and corrupting people’s minds to bring about their ruin! You must not be swayed by his words!”

“Kuhahahaha!!!!”

At Sera’s shout, Belzegor burst into crazed laughter as if he had been waiting.

“Indeed… The abomination the Church has put forth in this generation is truly formidable! How utterly detestable! Aren’t you, more than anyone, deceiving the Goddess!”

“Silence! You filthy Demon Lord!”

At Belzegor’s insulting words, Sera momentarily lost her composure and shouted vehemently.

Her usual sacred and benevolent demeanor was gone.

Her party members were briefly taken aback by her sudden change but soon collected themselves and readjusted their grip on their weapons.

Right now, they had to focus solely on defeating the Demon Lord.

“Yes, good. Dogs of the Church! Let’s play again this time!!!”

As Belzegor spread his arms and roared, the overwhelming demonic aura emanating from his body shook the entire Demon Lord’s castle.

Thus, the final battle began.

---

Demon Lord Belzegor.

His strength was by no means a mere boast.

He was on a completely different level from any demon or magical beast they had faced so far.

Irene’s high-level magic unleashed with all her might, the beams of divine power emanating from Sera, and the brilliant sword strikes of Lian’s holy sword, Elysium.

Belzegor effortlessly parried all of the Hero party’s attacks as if mocking them, or nullified them with even more powerful dark magic.

“Kuhahaha!!! This Hero party is truly pathetic! Goddess Asteria! This time, I will prove that my path was right!!!”

KRAAAASH—!!!

The Hero party was helplessly pushed back by a massive sphere of dark energy unleashed by Belzegor and slammed into a wall.

“Keuk!”

“Kyaaak!”

“Kukuku… Good. I’ll take care of that most annoying Church wench first.”

Belzegor smirked and reached out towards Sera.

Pitch-black dark energy began to condense on his palm.

Before that overwhelming magical power, Sera’s face turned white with terror.

“Wh-what are you all doing! Stop him!!!”

Sera screamed.

Lian and Irene hastily tried to help her, but they were blocked by an invisible wall of pressure created by Belzegor’s remaining hand, making it difficult to even approach.

‘Ah, no..! I can’t die like this..!’

Just as Sera, feeling the shadow of death loom over her, was about to close her eyes in despair.

TWANG!

With a sharp sound, something flashed past Belzegor’s vision.

“!!!”

Belzegor reflexively diverted the dark energy aimed at Sera and fired it at the flying object.

KRAAAASH—!!!

“Keuk!”

With a powerful explosion, one of the walls collapsed.

There stood Logan, crossbow in hand, panting heavily.

He had tried to aim for a vital spot with his crossbow, exploiting a moment of carelessness, but the Demon Lord was indeed not an easy opponent.

However, thanks to his surprise attack, Sera had narrowly escaped death.

Logan immediately prepared his next move and shouted.

“I’ll buy time, everyone get a grip and regroup!!!”

At his shout, Lian, Irene, and Sera finally came to their senses and began to draw upon their respective magical and divine powers.

Naturally, Belzegor wouldn’t just stand by and let this happen.

“How dare an insect like you try to face me one-on-one? You, who seem to specialize in cowardly little tricks, are incredibly impudent!”

Belzegor roared in anger and lunged at Logan with ferocious momentum.

WHOOSH!!!!

Belzegor’s demonic claw, having closed the distance in an instant, shot out, aiming for Logan’s heart.

Logan’s eyes widened at this, but he didn’t panic.

He had already anticipated this.

He calmly took something from his pouch and threw it on the floor.

FWOOSH—!!!

“Kuaaaargh!!! You cowardly little trickster!!!!”

Belzegor momentarily clutched his eyes, tormented by the intense light.

For him, accustomed to the darkness of the demon realm or the Demon Lord’s castle, a sudden flash of light was a fatal weakness.

What Logan had thrown was a specially crafted flashbang, made with the help of the Dwarven Great Elder, Baldur.

Of course, the Hero party, thanks to Logan tipping off Sera beforehand, was unaffected by the flash due to a light-shielding magic Sera had cast.

However, the effect of the flash was only momentary.

“You scoundrel—!”

KRAAAASH—!

The enraged Belzegor unleashed his magic, sweeping the surrounding area.

Logan enveloped his body in mana to defend himself, but he was caught in the powerful shockwave and slammed into a wall.

“Kuaaaargh!!!”

Amidst the pain, as if all his bones were shattering, Logan heard a desperate voice.

“Logan—!”

It was Irene.

How long had it been since he last heard her worried voice?

In this situation, funnily enough, Logan momentarily gained strength from her cry.

He endured the pain, staggered to his feet, drew his dagger, and charged at Belzegor again.

The Demon Lord, sneering at Logan rushing at him relying on a single small piece of metal, swung his massive hand, intending to crush him like an insect.

However.

CLANG—!

“!!?”

The moment the dagger and the Demon Lord’s claw clashed, an unexpected sound of metal friction rang out, and Belzegor was pushed

back.

‘Wh-what in the world is this…?’

Belzegor couldn’t hide his bewilderment.

The boy’s physical strength was no match for his.

Yet, what was this strange sensation, as if he was being outmatched in terms of affinity?

The only being who could hold an advantage in affinity against him should be the Hero wielding the holy sword…

Logan did not miss that fleeting moment of Belzegor’s confusion.

He brandished his dagger even more fiercely.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

“Keuk!”

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Belzegor hastily collected himself and parried Logan’s attacks.

He was surprised by the unexpected resistance, but it wasn’t beyond his ability to handle.

However, as the exchange continued, Belzegor’s conviction grew stronger.

This boy was definitely something special.

This power that seemed to hold an advantage in affinity against him…

“Kuhahaha!! Yes, so that’s what it was! I understand now!”

“…?”

Logan was puzzled by Belzegor suddenly shouting incomprehensible words and laughing during the battle, but he had no time to dwell on it.

Right now, he had to focus solely on defeating the Demon Lord.

Logan pressed Belzegor even harder, and finally, a decisive opening appeared in his defense.

“Lian!! Now!!!”

At Logan’s shout, Lian, who had been gathering power with Sera’s divine support, stepped forward.

The holy sword Elysium in his hand emitted a dazzling light, condensing immense energy.

“Yes, you’ve waited long enough!? This is the end! Demon Lord!!”

“Damn it!!!”

Belzegor belatedly sensed the danger and tried to assume a defensive stance, but Logan persistently tied him down, and Irene also activated a pre-prepared top-tier binding magic, sealing his movements.

“Kuaaaargh!!! You scoundrels—!!!”

And finally, Lian’s holy sword pierced Belzegor’s heart.

STAB—!!

Under the overwhelming power of the holy sword, Belzegor’s body erupted with black demonic energy as if it would explode.

KRAAAASH—!!

Logan, caught in the explosion, was also thrown to a corner of the hall along with Belzegor.

Belzegor, fatally wounded and collapsed.

In his fading consciousness, he looked at Logan, who was panting nearby, and let out a sneer.

“Kekeke… Pitiful… child… Why do you not rejoice…? You’ve defeated the Demon Lord you hated so much… me…”

“…..”

As Belzegor said, there was no trace of victorious joy on Logan’s face.

No matter how evil the Demon Lord was, witnessing someone’s death firsthand was by no means a pleasant experience.

Moreover, the pitying gaze Belzegor showed him even as he was dying, and his incomprehensible words, further confused and unsettled Logan’s mind.

Looking at Logan, Belzegor smiled faintly and tried to utter his last words.

“Still… it’s a relief… The Goddess… seems to… still care for you… Keoheok!”

However, before Belzegor could finish his sentence, Lian raised the holy sword again and mercilessly plunged it into his heart.

STAB—!!!!

“You evil Demon Lord! Trying to bewitch my comrade even as you die!!!”

“…..”

With Lian’s shout, the light completely faded from Belzegor’s eyes.

His body slowly began to disintegrate into black dust.

Swoooosh…

As the Demon Lord’s form completely vanished, the ominous and evil aura that had been pressing down on the entire Demon Lord’s castle lifted as if it were a lie.

There, Lian let out a cry of victory, raising his holy sword high, and Sera and Irene also showed expressions of joy and relief.

However, Logan couldn’t share their joy.

Something greater than the physical pain from the fierce battle with the Demon Lord suddenly struck his head.

With an extreme headache, he staggered towards a nearby wall and leaned against it.

“Heok…! Heok…!”

It was when he tried to catch his breath for a moment.

“!!!”

Flicker, flicker, flicker, flicker!

Suddenly, countless images began to flood into his mind at an incredible speed, like a storm.

---

Regardless of Logan’s will, images began to forcibly play in his mind.

Like a movie he had seen in his past life, vivid and clear scenes unfolded ceaselessly.

Starting from the moment he was first born into this world—

His first meeting with his childhood friend, Irene, whom he had vowed to love and devote everything to.

Her smile, as dazzling as the sunshine.

The horrific attack of monsters that had ravaged the village.

The moment he found Irene crying in terror amidst the ruins.

The past days when he worked and trained without a single day’s rest to protect her, to give her a better life.

The overwhelming emotion when he first held an adventurer’s plaque.

The images of him growing as he undertook numerous dangerous requests.

His encounter with Anya, the mysterious girl suffering from illness.

The warm times they shared, helping her recover and connecting emotionally, however briefly.

And finally, the day he held Irene’s hand and went to the Imperial Capital he had longed for.

Himself, comforting and encouraging Irene, who was struggling in the unfamiliar environment.

Next… the moment he joined the Hero’s party.

The very scene where Irene fell in love with Hero Lian at first sight…

Afterward, the painful journeys they undertook together to subjugate the Demon Lord.

Irene’s gaze directed at Lian, and her cold indifference towards him…

And finally, the defeat of Demon Lord Belzegor…

Up to this very moment.

Memories of the past and present flashed by breathlessly.

And…

The images didn’t stop, they began to advance towards the future.

…

..

.

Lian and Sera.

The sight of their faces drawing closer.

And Irene, unable to bear the sight, turning away, tears streaming down her face in sorrow.

And…

Finally….

“Logan……”

Irene, struggling with the pain of a broken heart, is approaching him, seeking comfort by leaning on him.

The moment Logan saw that scene, he unknowingly felt an overwhelming emotion.

It might seem selfish, but this was the moment he had longed for.

He hadn’t devoted himself expecting something in return, but,

To be honest…

He wanted to be with her.

He wanted to receive her love.

In the continuing images, Logan finally married Irene.

The moment he had dreamed of had become a reality.

Irene in her white wedding dress was dazzlingly beautiful.

‘…This is… my future…?’

It was unbelievable.

That such a happy future awaited him.

Logan was overwhelmed with emotion.

However.

‘Huh….?’

The scenes after the marriage were far from the happiness Logan had dreamed of.

“Lian….”

Even though Irene had become Logan’s wife, Hero Lian still held a deep place in her heart.

She secretly sought news of Lian and rushed to any event he attended, watching him from afar.

Logan knew all of this but endured it.

Because he loved her so much.

And…

Because she was pregnant with his child.

If this child was born, perhaps she would truly open her heart to him.

He clung to such a faint hope.

However.

The moment the child was born.

“Ah.. ah.. ah…”

Logan’s last hope shattered into pieces.

“Ah… Ah…! Ah…!”

The newborn baby had neither his black hair and blue eyes, nor Irene’s brown hair and black eyes.

Golden hair shining like the sun and fresh green eyes.

This appearance was clearly—

Lian’s.

“What’s wrong, darling! Our baby is finally born… Oh my..!?”

“Wa-wait a moment, Logan… This is some kind of mistake… a misunderstanding…!”

“You believe me, right, Logan..? Hmm…? Please… say something…!”

Irene’s excuses and pleas no longer reached his ears.

He hadn’t devoted everything expecting something in return.

No, honestly, he had wanted it. Her heart.

But was that so wrong?

Instead of reciprocation.

All that returned was such a cruel and horrific betrayal.

His pure love—

His devotion—

His everything—

Was thoroughly, and completely.

Deceived and trampled upon.

“Aaaaaaaaargh—!!!”